Razor with means for imparting reciprocal movement to a contained blade



March 8, 1966 LARSON 3,238,617

RAZOR WITH MEANS FOR IMPARTING RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT TO A CONTAINED BLADE Filed May 15, 1963 Fig.

Fig. 4

Roger R. Larson 1\' VENTO K4 WW 19m United States Patent 3,238,617 RAZOR WITH MEANS FOR IMPARTIN G RECIPRO- CAL MOVEMENT TO A CONTAINED BLADE Roger R. Larson, 3244 N. University Ave., Decatur, Ill. Filed May 15, 1963, Ser. No. 280,560 11 Claims. (Cl. 3046) This invention relates to improvements in safety razors.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a rapid cutting motion of a double edge razor blade without pulling the razor blade holder too fast over the shaving area of the face, thus combining the safety of slow movement of the razor blade holder with the advantage of-fast cutting action.

The aforementioned object is accomplished by the use of a double edged razor blade on which a plurality of cams are disposed. By means of these cams, the blade is adapted to be moved upward and backward and then downward and forward to increase the cutting action of the blade on the shaving area.

A further object of this invention resides in the use of a cam wheel mounted on the holding portion of the razor which cooperates with the cams on the blade to push the blade along a cam track formed in the holder to impart the requisite upward and backward movement to the blade. The blade is then returned along the foregoing path by a return spring incorporated in the holder thereby imparting downward and forward cutting action to the blade.

Still another object of this invention resides in imparting to the razor blade a reciprocal and transverse motion which precludes a gouging effect on the shaving area.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is of a simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fullyhereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the razor comprising the subject matter of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the razor shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view in end elevation of the razor shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the removable top portion of the razor.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 55 .013 FIGURE 2 with two of the springs used to urge the razor blade outwardly removed for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 66 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 77 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the razor blade holder used in the instant invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and comprises a handle portion 12, a body portion 14, and a top portion 16. The top portion 16 has mounted thereon a pair of spaced roller bearings 18 and 20 for cooperation with a pair of roller bearings 22 and 24 journaled on the 'body portion 14 to clamp a razor blade 26 therebetween. Also attached to the top portion 16 is a razor blade mount generally indicated by the numeral 28 over which a razor blade is adapted to be slid and positioned. Extending from the mount 28 are a pair of spring supports 30 and 32. A pair of apertures 34 and 35 are also spaced on the top portion 16 for the reception of upstanding pins 36 and 38 carried by the body portion 14. As shown in FIGURE 5, the pins are adapted to extend throughslots 40 and 42 in the razor blade for positioning the same. The razor blade mount 28 further comprises a depending threaded member 44 which is received in a threaded bore 46 in the handle portion 12 of the razor to thereby effectively clamp .all the parts together.

,ports 30 and extend upwardly through the groove 52 and contact the lateral side edges thereof. Since a pair of springs tend to urge the blade in opposite directions the force of the springs is neutralized to thereby maintain the blade in the position indicated in FIGURE 5.

Journaled on each end of the body portion 14 of the holder 10 are a pair of spaced cam wheels 56 and 58 respectively. Mounted on each of said wheels are a plurality of cams or camming teeth such as 60, each of which is adapted to engage a cam such as 62 formed on the bottom of the blade 26. One of said cam wheels such as 56 is adapted to engage the shaving area of the users face and upon the razor being pulled downwardly along the shaving area the cam wheel 56 will rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 7 thereby causing the blade 26 to move inwardly of the razor due to the contact of the cam teeth 60 with the cam 62. A recess or valley 64 and 66 is formed in the top portion 16 of the razor to cooperate with a cam such as 68 formed'on the opposite side ofthe blade 26 from the cams 62. Therefore, as the cam is moved inwardly as described above, the cam 68 will move into the valley or recess 64 thereby moving the blade upwardly. This is possible due to the temper of the blade 26. This motion will continue until the camming teeth 60 no longer contact the cam 62. When-this last condition occurs, the springs 54 which have been compressed during the inward movement of the blade, will push the blade outwardly of the razor. However, the cam 68'on the blade 26 will retrace its path from the valley 64 and therefore the resultant motion will be downwardly and outwardly thereby producing a cutting stroke of the blade on the shaving area. It should of course be noted that the blade is under proper tension at all times but is allowed to move backward and forward due to the bearings 18 and 22 duringthe aforementioned movement. It should also be appreciated, that the same motion may be accomplished by using the cam wheel 58 in lieu of the cam wheel 56.

To summarize the operation of the device, it will be appreciated, that the blade 26 is first placed on the mount 28 and the springs 54 are compressed to pass within the cross-shaped groove 52 and abut the lateral edges thereof. The top of the razor is then threaded into the body portion 14 and handle 12 by means of the threaded member 44 entering the threaded recess 46. The pins '36 and 38 carried by the body portion 14 enter the apertures 34 and 35 in the top portion to properly align the two parts. The blade is thus clamped and properly tensioned at the correct cutting angle between the roller bearings 18, 20 and 22, 24. However, due to this connection the blade is adapted to slide inwardly and outwardly of the razor. It also should be appreciated that in lieu of roller bearings such as disclosed,

suitable ball bearings may be used. The cam wheel 56 is then rolled'down the shaving area and the blade will move backwardly and upwardly. When the camming teeth 60 clear the lug 62, the springs 54 which have been compressed will push the blade downwardly and outwardly providing a cutting stroke. The combination of the downward pull on the razor and the action of the springs 54 combine to provide a speedier cutting stroke.

It should also be appreciated that in the razor disclosed herein the upward and rearward stroke helps to set up the whiskers for the downward or cutting stroke. Also, the rotating motion of the cam wheel 56 or 58 will push lather into the razor blade rather than pushing it away which helps to soften and stand the whiskers up for the cutting action. Furthermore, the rotating motion of the cam wheel provides an invigorating massage action for the face. Furthermore, the edge of the blade as it moves does not describe an are which will cause gouging of the skin but rather provides for substantially linear up-and-down motion which when considered with the foregoing enables the user to realize a comfortable and more rapid shave.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A razor for imparting reciprocal movement to a blade having a cutting edge comprising oppositely facing surfaces, means for clamping a blade between said surfaces while permitting movement of the bladeboth parallel and substantially normal to said surfaces, means on one of said surfaces for imparting said parallel movement to a blade, means on the other of said surfaces for transposing said parallel movement of the blade into relative upward normal movement thereof with respect to said one surface and means carried by the razor for reversing the path of movement of the blade after the blade has moved a predetermined amount to define a downward normal cutting stroke of the blade upon a shaving area.

2. A razor for imparting reciprocal movement to a blade having a cutting edge comprising oppositely facing surfaces, means for clamping a blade between said surfaces while permitting movement of the blade both parallel and substantially normal to said surfaces, means on one of said surfaces for imparting said parallel movement to a blade, means on the other of said surfaces for transposing said parallel movement of the blade into relative upward normal movement thereof with respect to said one surface and means carried by the razor for reversing the path of movement of the blade after the blade has moved a predetermined amount to define a downward normal cutting stroke of the blade upon a shaving area, said clamping means including a plurality of rotary bearings disposed in oppositely facing relationship on each of said surfaces.

3. The razor of claim 2 wherein said imparting means includes a rotary cam wheel journaled on said one surface and a plurality of camming teeth spaced about the circumference of the wheel.

4. The razor of claim 3 wherein said transposing means includes a camming recess formed in the other of said surfaces.

5. The razor of claim 4 wherein said reversing means includes at least one coil spring carried by said other surface.

6. The razor of claim 5 including means on said other surface for aligning, positioning and guiding the movement of said blade.

7. The razor of claim 1 wherein said imparting means includes a rotary cam wheel journaled on said one surface along the edge thereof and a plurality of camming teeth spaced about the circumference of the wheel.

8. The razor of claim 1 whereinsaid transposing means includes a camming recess formed in the other of said surfaces.

9. The razor of claim 1 wherein said reversing means includes at least one spring carried by said other surface.

10. A razor adapted to impart reciprocal movement to a blade having a cutting edge and upper and lower oppositely extending cams on opposite sides thereof adjacent said edge, said razor comprising a body portion, a top portion fixed to said body portion in overlying relation thereto so asto confine a blade therebetween, a cam wheel rotatably mounted onsaid body portion adjacent one edge thereof, said cam'wheel projecting both outwardly of said body portion edge for engagement against the face of a user, and upwardly of said body portion edge for engagement with the lower blade cam so as to effect a periodic upward and inward movement of a confined blade upon a rotation of the cam wheel through engagement with the face of a user, and a camming recess in said top portion for selectively receiving the upper cam of a confined blade for guiding the movement of the blade.

11. The razor of claim 10 including spring biasing means centrally located between the body portion and top portion for resisting the periodic movement of a blade and for inducing a periodic return movement thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,573,244 2/1926 Hickey 1 30-254 1,840,199 1/1932 Hoff 30-354 1,890,647 12/ 1932 Harshberger 30-44 2,046,470 7/1936' Larsen 30-44 2,066,215 12/1936 Mignon 30-46 2,090,181 8/1937 Bunnell '30-46 2,116,280 5/1938 'Parkin 30-46 2,146,947 2/ 1939 Enright 30-44 2,157,492 5/1939 Livingston 30-44 2,246,601 6/ 1941 Schiifi BO-43.3 2,289,875 7/1942 Dalkowitz I 3043.3

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. MYRON c. KRUSE, Examiner. 

1. A RAZOR FOR IMPARTING RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT TO A BLADE HAVING A CUTTING EDGE COMPRISING OPPOSITELY FACING SURFACES, MEANS FOR CLAMPING A BLADE BETWEEN SAID SURFACES WHILE PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF THE BLADE BOTH PARALLEL AND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID SURFACES, MEANS ON ONE OF SAID SURFACES FOR IMPARTING SAID PARALLEL MOVEMENT TO A BLADE, MEANS ON THE OTHER OF SAID SURFACES FOR TRANSPOSING SAID PARALLEL MOVEMENT OF THE BLADE INTO RELATIVE UPWARD NORMAL MOVEMENT THEREOF WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE SURFACE AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE RAZOR FOR REVERSING THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE BLADE AFTER THE BLADE HAS MOVED A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT TO DEFINE A DOWNWARD NORMAL CUTTING STROKE OF THE BLADE UPON A SHAVING AREA. 